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Expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450-c17, and sulfotransferase 2B1 proteins in liver and testis of pigs of two breeds: Relationship with adipose tissue androstenone concentration

Moe, M.; Moe, E.; Doran (nee Udovikova), Olena; Grindflek, E.

Authors

M. Moe

E. Moe

Olena Doran Olena.Doran@uwe.ac.uk
College Dean of Research and Enterprise

E. Grindflek



Abstract

An excessive accumulation of androstenone in pig adipose tissue is a major contributor to the phenomenon of boar taint. Androstenone deposition is dependent on the rate of androstenone biosynthesis in testis and androstenone degradation in liver. The aim of the current study was to examine the possibility of the existence of breed-specific mechanisms controlling androstenone accumulation in pig adipose tissue. The specific objective was to investigate the expression of some of the key enzymes involved in testicular and hepatic androstenone metabolism in pigs of 2 breeds by using animals with high and low androstenone concentrations within each breed. The study was conducted with Norwegian Landrace (N. Landrace) and Duroc boars. The mean androstenone values for the low- and high-androstenone groups were 0.1 ± 0.01 μg/g and 7.58 ± 0.68 μg/g for N. Landrace boars, and 0.22 ± 0.04 μg/g and 13.55 ± 1.14 μg/g for Duroc boars. The enzymes investigated were 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), cytochrome P450-c17, and sulfotransferase 2B1 (SULT2B1). Expression of cytochrome P450-c17 in liver and testis did not differ between animals with high and low androstenone concentrations in either the N. Landrace or Duroc breed. Expression of hepatic 3β-HSD, which catalyzes the first stage of androstenone degradation, was decreased in high-androstenone N. Landrace boars (P < 0.01), but not in high-androstenone Duroc boars. In contrast, the expression of hepatic SULT2B1, which catalyzes the second stage of steroid catabolism, was decreased in high-androstenone Duroc animals (P < 0.05), but not in high-androstenone N. Landrace animals. Sulfotransferase 2B1 was also inhibited in testis of high-androstenone pigs of both breeds compared with low-androstenone animals. We report breed differences in expression of the androstenone-metabolizing enzymes 3β-HSD and SULT2B1 in the liver of high- and low-androstenone pigs. It is suggested that accumulation of androstenone in adipose tissue of N. Landrace boars might be related to a low rate of hepatic androstenone degradation in metabolic stage I, whereas the high androstenone concentration in Duroc boars might be related to a low rate of androstenone metabolism in metabolic stage II. ©2007 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.

Citation

Moe, M., Moe, E., Grindflek, E., & Doran (nee Udovikova), O. (2007). Expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450-c17, and sulfotransferase 2B1 proteins in liver and testis of pigs of two breeds: Relationship with adipose tissue androstenone concentration. Journal of Animal Science, 85(11), 2924-2931. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2007-0283

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Nov 1, 2007
Journal Journal of Animal Science
Print ISSN 0021-8812
Publisher Oxford University Press (OUP)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 85
Issue 11
Pages 2924-2931
DOI https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2007-0283
Keywords androstenone, breed, cytochrome P450-c17, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, pig, sulfotransferase 2B1
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1033685
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2007-0283